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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to consider moving to Scotland because I cannot cope with heat?

332 replies

bobdylanlover · 26/08/2026 19:32

I can't stand the heat. I holiday pretty much only in snowy places, some of which get dark very early. I have not coped well this summer. I also have a heart problem that isn't helped by hot weather. It's making me seriously consider moving to Scotland. My mum and dad, in their 70s, are somewhat open to also making the move with us - we are close emotionally and geographically and they wouldn't want to be away from my daughter.

The problem is this. I have lived within the same 10 miles for the majority of my nearly 40 years of existence (aside from uni, and living in Europe 3 times briefly). We have good friends here, it's a nice area, we have a lovely home. A nice primary school round the corner etc. Good neighbours. Parents round the corner. We both are happy in our work and can work remotely. Nothing is technically 'wrong' aside from how hot the summers are becoming. For example, there were loads of local things I didn't go to/do this summer because it was too hot.

I feel sick at the thought of leaving everything and jumping into the unknown. But part of me doesn't want to live and die within the same 10 miles anyway. I feel like I've exhausted almost everything here. I can't think of anywhere new to go any more and I find that utterly depressing.

My partner and I have always loved Scotland. Always. The nature and the space, the friendly people. So it's not an idea plucked out of thin air. It's been something that I've wondered about on/off for years.

Is it normal to feel so sick at the prospect of making such a big move? If I stay here will I regret not having tried it? Do you think the weather (and writing off 3 months each summer) is reason enough to do this? I can't settle on one idea. Sometimes I just think it's easier to do nothing but everything suggests that hot summers are going to be our new 'normal'.

OP posts:
SamorDean · 29/08/2026 19:41

I am from Scotland. Lived down south for a few years, started a family but decided to come back to Scotland. I also don't like heat so it's great for me. I used to live in a little town...it was quaint and cute until I got very bored with it. Now I live on the West Coast and I'm happy as Larry.

Go for it!

UnctuousUnicorns · 29/08/2026 19:44

Blue44Lady · 29/08/2026 19:24

I live in Shetland, not that far from the North Pole

I sit corrected! 🥶 I thought Inverness was bad - stayed there one weekend in Spring and had to buy a hat, scarf and gloves while there as I wasn't prepared for just how perishing it would be!

Bellablahhole · 29/08/2026 19:45

I'm in the North East England and would love to change places to move somewhere drier and warmer. The plague of damp weather is no joy when it triggers asthma problems. I'm already struggling to breathe and having to stay indoors.ǰ

CelestialBee · 29/08/2026 19:55

Some of these comments are wild and really derogatory of a wonderful place. I moved to Scotland from South Africa - a fairly significant change in climate. In my opinion being hot is overrated. I spent a few years in London but returned to Edinburgh and have been settled 6 years now. Is it cold, yes. You climatise. Is it wet, yes, but it's also so green and beautiful because it rains and the environment is thriving here - we shouldn't forget that drought it not normal.

The winters may be dark but they can be cosy and magical if you let them. And then the long summer nights - nothing compares. Autumn is truly beautiful. Quality of life for me is excellent. I work with English, Irish, Scottish and international colleagues in higher education and play sport with people from all over the UK who have also settled here too. No one has ever expressed feeling unwelcome here, including myself. I do travel to warmer places from time to time but am always grateful to return home.

carer5 · 29/08/2026 20:47

Go to Scotland before the children hit Secondary / Higher / High School.
I lived all over the world, and being born in the winter, prefer cooler weather too. This new “ heatwave “ hell in Britian is affecting my breathing, and my physical health so I completely understand your feelings as a family. This new wave reminds me of living in hell whilst in Asia.
I think healthcare, schooling and, landscapes are all in your favour if you have doubts, go to as many hols as you can, and get the children to decide on their fave area / s whilst being in control as a parent!
Bon Chance! 🏔

House12 · 29/08/2026 20:51

NancyThompson · 29/08/2026 19:26

Lots of people do move up to Scotland from further south though. They're a fair old chunk of my local community, and most seem to thrive.

I know yes, pricing out locals, driving up house prices, and largely adding nothing whatsoever.

Hubbalooloo · 29/08/2026 20:59

Totally understand. Am thinking of moving back ‘home ‘ to the north of England when I retire in a couple of years . DH is happy, adult kids love it there so would visit. It’s back to my roots and away from the blistering heat.

Hubbalooloo · 29/08/2026 21:02

EveryoneUsingOutro · 28/08/2026 14:34

Me neither. Heating usually goes on last week Sept or so. Honestly the ridiculousness of some of these haters is bizarre. It’s 18c with some cloud cover and a mild breeze here today. Totally normal weather.

lovely. 18 is fine by me

NancyThompson · 29/08/2026 21:30

House12 · 29/08/2026 20:51

I know yes, pricing out locals, driving up house prices, and largely adding nothing whatsoever.

It's not been my experience at all that they "add nothing". From starting businesses to being the mainstay of local charities, they contribute a great deal.

Britalian · 29/08/2026 22:43

I moved to Scotland last year from Italy and have loved not spending my summer drenched in sweat and hiding indoors. I'd recommend East Lothian coast (not where I am) as less rainy/midgy than West coast, and a relatively easy journey to get back down to England for visits. Direct trains to London from Dunbar, I think. Plus not far to Edinburgh airport. One thing i would say is 25C up here feels more like 30C somewhere else. Not sure why, but it definitely feels different. At 25C in Italy I'd wear jeans and take a jumper with me, at 25C in Scotland I'm warm in shorts and t-shirt.

Mightymuscle · 29/08/2026 23:08

The NHS is just as bad in Scotland as elsewhere in GB. Have had exoeruence of long waiting lists, wrong diagnosis for one problem. This was discovered at a private appointment after NHS placed me on yet another 64 week waiting list for wrong treatment. Info to GP tgen referred to correct NHS department, 1 year list!
Then appointment with orthopeadic consultant who referred to old xray, prescribed drugs I should not have. Then declared I would be on a waiting list that I can use to contact if the condition deteriorated even more. Went to GP who was shocked at drug prescribed, also using old xrays. Drugs refused. And, they disclosed the waiting list is a tactic to enable NHS to provide figures to Scottish Government that waiting lists are reducing. GP informed me if I don't make any contact regarding "the waiting" within 6 months name is completely removed from the system as referral and I will be back to square one. Apparently, the lists are being applied to all conditions Anyone who thinks NHS Scotland is better than elsewhere hasn't a clue.I can go on about a surgical ward experience as a visitor only 3 weeks ago but like me, you just wouldn't believe what happened.

suki1964 · 29/08/2026 23:12

bobdylanlover · 28/08/2026 06:35

Reading some of the comments, I'm reminded why I don't want to re-locate to England! Not all, I should add.

If Scotland is so terribly bad - a dark, midge-filled hell - why hasn't everyone left and moved South?

I've spent a lot of time in places that get dark at 3pm. And I know rain, having lived in Wales for most of my life. I also know heat, having lived in Southern Europe 3 times. And I detested that climate in the summer months.

The aircon suggestion is of course one solution but the heat has been so bad that I've missed many of the local events that were once a staple of my summer. Even when I went to the beach I had to stay under the umbrella for the entire time to avoid the scorching 30plus heat. If this is the way it's going, it means months that are 'tolerated' and essentially written off instead of being able to enjoy the outdoors.

I believe the East coast of Scotland has many more days of sun (but not hot sun) than South Wales does.

Scotland is only hell on earth for us southern softies :)

My wee sister lives in Perth - Oz, and her head is fried seeing us in skimpies and in the sea when its barely 20o C ( hot summer day here - middle of winter and light the fire for her )

You alicmatise. Im pretty sure when she emigrated, 30oC was like a furnace to her, now she takes it in her stride

As I say Im on the same attitude as Edinburgh , and today its been 18, complete dark cloud cover and so ruddy humid , but as darkness fell, curtains needed closing and a fire was needed but Im heading to a bed in a room where the windows are open cos it will still be hot to sleep otherwise ( little sister will disagree )

BigMoandtheEStreet11 · 30/08/2026 01:11

I love Edinburgh. It’s never that hot or that cold. Can’t remember any snow last winter and I think it might have hit 28 degrees once in the summer but we were in scorchio France at the time. Mostly it’s been low 20s. Midges definitely not an issue in urban locations and even when they are, it’s only in certain places and at certain times. I was walking in the hills with DC1 last weekend and not a hint of a midge, doing the same tomorrow as well and won’t be bringing any midge spray, it’s been so long have had any bother with them I’d forgotten they exist. Otoh, every time we go to continental Europe, always come home with loads of itchy bites which often blister. It’s grim, it’s antihistamine all the way next time.

Xanhi · 30/08/2026 08:04

Firetreev · 26/08/2026 20:20

Ah okay. Yes, I'd agree with that statement. There does seem to be a lot of English people moving to Scotland. And they are quite different to Scots. I think the English are much more individualistic on the whole.

I live in London and barely anyone I know who you would call English is just English. Most are a mixture of all sorts of different nationalities from all over the world. I am English but my father's parents were Irish and my mother's family are originally from wales. They emigrated to Australia where she was born and raised. Does the individualistic personality of the English come from living in England or is it in their blood? Or is it just made up nonsense?

Lots of Scottish people come to live in London. I would never dream of generalising about them in this way.

Linnende · 30/08/2026 08:39

We moved and retired to Northern Ireland in May this year. Beautiful part of the world. We had been planning this move for 18 months. The weather can be very wet and dull at times but the temperature is to our liking. When mainland UK was experiencing the terrible hot temps, we were in the low to mid 20's, very comfortable.
Not for one minute do we regret moving. We purchased a beautiful bungalow (199k) with fantastic views of Belfast Loch 😀 and the bungalow was 100k less than we would have paid for in our previous location.
Quality of life is amazing, food is fresh and cheaper. I previously hated buying vegetables that lasted a couple of days and then started turning. I really don't understand what is happening to the quality of food in general, in the UK. The quality of food in Ireland is as it should be, fresh!
We have made friends, quality of life is completely different. I could not have coped with the extreme weather conditions this summer, in my previous hometown.
It is early days, do we regret moving? The only regret we have is that we did not move sooner! Take a risk and move, would be my advice.Hopefully you will gain the same experiences we have, you won't know until you try. Good luck whatever you decide x

Shangle · 30/08/2026 08:49

I bought a house in Aberdeen this year! Winters are brutal but will just have to adapt. I love how the city is on this beautiful beach. The summer felt great. I could afford a beautiful place that would have been a total pipedream. The locals can be down on it for having failed to live up to its oil boom glory days, but as a new arrival, I find it to be a characterful little city with lots going on. I ak worried about heating bills this winter though

Kossak · 30/08/2026 10:00

There's a certain irony about people from a country where complaints about migration from war torn countries are loudest, wanting to move to another country - because of the weather. That said, we could do with more people and mostly welcome them, but don't believe for one moment that Scotland is 'the same' as England. Especially southern England. It's not nearly so class ridden, for one thing. Money doesn't necessarily buy you privilege, except in certain parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The ignorance on here is astounding. Yes, we will get angry if you inevitably screw up our housing market. Skye is a good example. Masses of rich incomers with holiday houses, and key workers living in caravans and tents. The SNP gets a bad press with some justification - but many people who are hugely disappointed in the party still support independence. That's why we vote for them. For all their many faults, we dislike the alternative - beholden to London - so much more. Be aware of that. We have never forgotten that we were dragged kicking and screaming out of the EU by our more powerful neighbour. We know that we're in a colonial relationship, not a real union. We hear the jibes. Meanwhile, I have an NHS dentist, I can phone my GP practice and get a prompt appointment, usually with a doctor of my choice, and our children leave university without owing a fortune in fees. The legal system is different, the NHS is different (and whatever people are saying, on the whole, it's better) and the education system is different. Not necessarily better or worse, but definitely different. There are far fewer private schools. There's a right to roam. You will have to get used to most of the 'UK' news on radio and TV not applying up here AT ALL. (And it's irritating.) People are - again on the whole - kinder and more tolerant. Less suspicious of their neighbours. The weather in South West Scotland is more windy and rainy than most people who don't live here can imagine, although the East Coast is drier and has more sunshine. We are not short of water. There are a lot of wind farms, although they also fund our communities. Midges will eat the tops off your socks. Eating out is as expensive - and in some cases more expensive - than in the south. Sectarianism still - shamefully - exists especially in South West Scotland. If you move north of the central belt, you'll pay more for deliveries. The immigrants who fit in are happy here, because they take it slowly and don't try to change things too drastically, too soon. My advice would be to spend a few weeks in late November in the place you want to move to. If you're happy, make the move. It's a wonderful country.

Mightymuscle · 30/08/2026 10:55

Look at the cost of housing over the border, may give a clue as to why people haven't moved en-masse.

Shangle · 30/08/2026 11:05

Kossak · 30/08/2026 10:00

There's a certain irony about people from a country where complaints about migration from war torn countries are loudest, wanting to move to another country - because of the weather. That said, we could do with more people and mostly welcome them, but don't believe for one moment that Scotland is 'the same' as England. Especially southern England. It's not nearly so class ridden, for one thing. Money doesn't necessarily buy you privilege, except in certain parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The ignorance on here is astounding. Yes, we will get angry if you inevitably screw up our housing market. Skye is a good example. Masses of rich incomers with holiday houses, and key workers living in caravans and tents. The SNP gets a bad press with some justification - but many people who are hugely disappointed in the party still support independence. That's why we vote for them. For all their many faults, we dislike the alternative - beholden to London - so much more. Be aware of that. We have never forgotten that we were dragged kicking and screaming out of the EU by our more powerful neighbour. We know that we're in a colonial relationship, not a real union. We hear the jibes. Meanwhile, I have an NHS dentist, I can phone my GP practice and get a prompt appointment, usually with a doctor of my choice, and our children leave university without owing a fortune in fees. The legal system is different, the NHS is different (and whatever people are saying, on the whole, it's better) and the education system is different. Not necessarily better or worse, but definitely different. There are far fewer private schools. There's a right to roam. You will have to get used to most of the 'UK' news on radio and TV not applying up here AT ALL. (And it's irritating.) People are - again on the whole - kinder and more tolerant. Less suspicious of their neighbours. The weather in South West Scotland is more windy and rainy than most people who don't live here can imagine, although the East Coast is drier and has more sunshine. We are not short of water. There are a lot of wind farms, although they also fund our communities. Midges will eat the tops off your socks. Eating out is as expensive - and in some cases more expensive - than in the south. Sectarianism still - shamefully - exists especially in South West Scotland. If you move north of the central belt, you'll pay more for deliveries. The immigrants who fit in are happy here, because they take it slowly and don't try to change things too drastically, too soon. My advice would be to spend a few weeks in late November in the place you want to move to. If you're happy, make the move. It's a wonderful country.

So you've written a post in which you deplore immigration's impact on your nation's housing market and position your country as being full of innately good people, unlike the culture the immigrants are coming from, which is positioned as inherently bad.
South of the border, we would call you a Little Englander. Is Little Scotlander a thing?

Differentforgirls · 30/08/2026 14:55

Mightymuscle · 30/08/2026 10:55

Look at the cost of housing over the border, may give a clue as to why people haven't moved en-masse.

Which way? To or from Scotland?

Differentforgirls · 30/08/2026 14:57

Shangle · 30/08/2026 11:05

So you've written a post in which you deplore immigration's impact on your nation's housing market and position your country as being full of innately good people, unlike the culture the immigrants are coming from, which is positioned as inherently bad.
South of the border, we would call you a Little Englander. Is Little Scotlander a thing?

What?

Mightymuscle · 30/08/2026 15:18

Can't believe I have to clarify that housing is cheaper in Scotland than in England. Do acknowledge very north of England may be about the same but even there there was a boost in property prices when folk left Scotland and moved there when taxation in Scotland increased.

Differentforgirls · 30/08/2026 16:31

Mightymuscle · 30/08/2026 15:18

Can't believe I have to clarify that housing is cheaper in Scotland than in England. Do acknowledge very north of England may be about the same but even there there was a boost in property prices when folk left Scotland and moved there when taxation in Scotland increased.

So why haven’t they moved en masse?

Thecatspantaloons · 30/08/2026 17:34

Kossak · 30/08/2026 10:00

There's a certain irony about people from a country where complaints about migration from war torn countries are loudest, wanting to move to another country - because of the weather. That said, we could do with more people and mostly welcome them, but don't believe for one moment that Scotland is 'the same' as England. Especially southern England. It's not nearly so class ridden, for one thing. Money doesn't necessarily buy you privilege, except in certain parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The ignorance on here is astounding. Yes, we will get angry if you inevitably screw up our housing market. Skye is a good example. Masses of rich incomers with holiday houses, and key workers living in caravans and tents. The SNP gets a bad press with some justification - but many people who are hugely disappointed in the party still support independence. That's why we vote for them. For all their many faults, we dislike the alternative - beholden to London - so much more. Be aware of that. We have never forgotten that we were dragged kicking and screaming out of the EU by our more powerful neighbour. We know that we're in a colonial relationship, not a real union. We hear the jibes. Meanwhile, I have an NHS dentist, I can phone my GP practice and get a prompt appointment, usually with a doctor of my choice, and our children leave university without owing a fortune in fees. The legal system is different, the NHS is different (and whatever people are saying, on the whole, it's better) and the education system is different. Not necessarily better or worse, but definitely different. There are far fewer private schools. There's a right to roam. You will have to get used to most of the 'UK' news on radio and TV not applying up here AT ALL. (And it's irritating.) People are - again on the whole - kinder and more tolerant. Less suspicious of their neighbours. The weather in South West Scotland is more windy and rainy than most people who don't live here can imagine, although the East Coast is drier and has more sunshine. We are not short of water. There are a lot of wind farms, although they also fund our communities. Midges will eat the tops off your socks. Eating out is as expensive - and in some cases more expensive - than in the south. Sectarianism still - shamefully - exists especially in South West Scotland. If you move north of the central belt, you'll pay more for deliveries. The immigrants who fit in are happy here, because they take it slowly and don't try to change things too drastically, too soon. My advice would be to spend a few weeks in late November in the place you want to move to. If you're happy, make the move. It's a wonderful country.

People like you scare me a little, with your collective you lot taking us out of the EU as if we're a monolith. The irony isn't as ironic as you think it is , but crack on with your generalisations.

For everyone else, Scotland is the same as England, in that there are friendly, open-minded people as well as ignorant, close minded, tribal folk.

Mightymuscle · 30/08/2026 18:49

Differentforgirls Again, cost of housing. A lot of those who moved for tax purposes earned over £40k. Suggest you check Scottish Gov taxation.